ROCKFORD — A proposal from community budget advisers to lower the Rockford School District’s tax levy next year got little support Tuesday night.

Rockford School Board member Tim Rollins mentioned the proposal and “the robust conversation” that took place at last week’s Operations Committee, but there was no further discussion on the Budget and Finance Subcommittee’s suggestion to slash the district’s tax rate by 20 cents.

The board, which lowered the district’s rate by 58 cents this year and already voted to keep next year’s levy flat, is being asked by Rockford businessman Sunil Puri and other members of the subcommittee to reconsider its decision given the district’s $150 million cash surplus.

The 20-cent reduction could mean a drop of $35 to $70 on future property tax bills.

After the meeting, Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said he’s proud of the board’s decision to keep the levy flat.

“By holding the line on the tax levy we are the only taxing body that’s publicly committed to doing that this year,” Jarrett said. “I’m hoping that other taxing bodies will consider taking that step, as well. ... We’ll certainly listen to what the community has to say, but at this point, the board has taken clear action.”

Rockford teachers’ union president Dawn Grannath and vice president Paul Goddard reiterated their message of caution.

“We have a lot of optimism about the direction the district is heading and we really don’t want to see something derail that,” Goddard said. “Great schools will do more to enhance the community at this point in its history than a slightly lower tax levy.”

“Great schools need funding,” Grannath added.

The 20-cent reduction would put the district’s tax rate at $7 per $100 equalized assessed value. The district would take in about $4.2 million less than it had planned to collect in property taxes next year. With a flat levy, district officials expect to need to reduce spending by about $1.2 million.